SAGGERE RAMASWAMY, editor of India’s first web-based photo syndication service Karnataka Photo News, sends us this picture from the Bangalore Canine Club’s proceedings on Sunday, which says more than a thousand words.

2 comments

I love all kinds of animals, the big ones small ones etc, from elephants to cats. I donot particularly like rats because they have bitten my office chair handle and also bitten the window mosquito nets in my house thus giving a free gate pass to the mosquitoes.

I have fed elephants with ragi and rice balls, rode on horses (literally fallen head over heals(‘not on it but from them’) patted innumerable dogs, got bitten by one (more of it later) fondled a few cats, again got bitten by a kitten, (they are shrewd aren’t they- they donot seem to belong to any one).

My wife is typically opposite of me in nature. She is afraid of all animals, especially those which can move. She has become a bit bolder now a days in handling mice/rats.

Of my two sons, the first one is like me, he likes dogs, the second one is afraid of it, though likes to own a puppy.

So, when the suggestion came from my children that we should get a puppy, my wife fought tooth and nail aginst it. Any amount of persuation wouldnot make her budge. Her refrain was

“neevirovaga bere` naayi yake` ?”

I was initially thrilled by her reply, as it sounded of so much trust and confidence in me – I imagined myself to be the ‘top dog’ .

When I mentioned it to my friend, he made the fine distinction that she referred to me as yet another dog, and that the house didnot need any further addition. This sent my blood racing even in my placid arteries and veins. But then, a thought occurred to me, whether she was referring to me as a “jati nayi (a pedigreed dog) or a kantri nayi (a stray one).

So, when I came home, I raised the issue of my ancestors and my hoary past. She seemed least bothered and didnot reply.

So I am left scratching my head, wondering whether which of us, (I mean) ‘the dog or myself ‘ is the more insulted !